Spraying to kill mosquito larvae (Source: VNA)Ba Ria – Vung Tau (VNA) – The southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau on November 21 reported a second Zika virus infection case.
The 22-year-old female is an older sister of the first patient. Both are residing in Phu My town, Tan Thanh district.
Director of the provincial Department of Health Pham Minh An said the woman got sick on October 31, one day after her younger brother was diagnosed to be infected with the virus, with symptoms of fever and rash.
She received outpatient treatment at Ba Ria Hospital, and her blood sample was sent to Ho Chi Minh City’s Pasteur Institute for test.
On November 21, the provincial health sector received the positive test result from the institute, and thus promptly zoning off areas, killing mosquito larva and spraying chemicals to exterminate the outbreaks.
Medical workers also provided health consultations and check-ups for 80 pregnant women in Tan Thanh district.
Vietnam had detected 65 Zika infection cases by November 19, including 62 in Ho Chi Minh City.
Zika virus is transmitted to humans primarily through Aedes aegypty mosquito bites and sexual intercourse.
The symptoms of Zika infection include fever, conjunctivitis, headaches and muscle pains.
Zika infection during pregnancy may lead to microcephaly in babies, which is responsible for incomplete brain development and unusually small head.
Currently, there is no vaccine for this virus.-VNA
